Skip to content
trigonal Tectosilicates

Smoky Quartz (Morion)

Formula SiO2

Crystal Structure

#! Species: Smoky Quartz (Morion) #! System: Trigonal (32) #! Habit: Short prismatic, nearly opaque trigonal[32]:{10-10}@0.4 + {10-11}@1.2 + {01-11}@1.0
trigonal
32
{10-10} {10-11} {01-11}

Quick Facts

Hardness
7.0
Specific Gravity
2.65
Refractive Index
1.544
Optical Character
Uniaxial +

Physical Properties

Crystal System
trigonal
Hardness (Mohs)
7.0
Specific Gravity
2.65
Cleavage
None
Fracture
Conchoidal
Lustre
Vitreous

Optical Properties

Refractive Index
1.544
Birefringence
0.009
Optical Character
Uniaxial +
Dispersion
0.013

Characteristics

Colours
Light brownDark brownGreyish-brownNearly black (morion)
Localities
BrazilSwitzerland (Alps)Scotland (Cairngorm)MadagascarUSA (Colorado)
Common Inclusions
Two-phase fluid inclusionsRutile needlesNegative crystals
Known Treatments
Irradiation (to produce or deepen colour)Heat treatment (lightens colour)
Crystal Forms
prismrhombohedron

Diagnostic Features

Brown to black from natural radiation; aluminium colour centres; fades with heat